Computer Crime
Cyber Crime
"Offences that are committed against individuals or groups of individuals with a criminal motive to
intentionally harm the reputation of the victim or cause physical or mental harm to the victim directly or
indirectly, using modern telecommunication networks such as Internet (Chat rooms, emails, notice
boards and groups) and mobile phones (SMS/MMS)“
Internet Terminology
Phishing
Business
Scams
Pharming
Hacking
Hacking
Definition
Hacking is unauthorized use of computer and network resources.
The activity of breaking into a computer system to gain an unauthorized access is known as hacking. The
act of defeating the security capabilities of a computer system in order to obtain an illegal access to the
information stored on the computer system is called hacking.
Protection
 Make your passwords long and complicated, and with a good mix of letters and numbers, as
well as utilizing case-sensitive letters. Don't use anything familiar, such as your birthday, your
children's names or anything like that. If a hacker wants to attempt to break into your email
accounts, at least make him work for it.
 Don't ever allow your browser to remember your passwords. True, it may be a bit of an
inconvenience to enter your password every time you log in.
 Activate Firewall
Phishing (fishing)
Disguising as a trustworthy source
Phishing is the act of attempting to acquire sensitive information like usernames, passwords and credit
card details by disguising as a trustworthy source. Phishing is carried out through emails or by luring the
users to enter personal information through fake websites. Criminals often use websites that have a
look and feel of some popular website, which makes the users feel safe to enter their details there.
Phishing Protection
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The most powerful weapon against phishing is common sense and the following rules that every
user should oblige to.
If you are not a customer of the site delete the email immediately. Don´t click on the link or
reply.
If you are a customer and you are not sure if the email is legit do one of the following:
Contact the institute by phone or contact at the official website (do not use the email link of
course) and ask if the mail is official.
Instead of using the link provided open the website by typing in the official link there. The site
should have news about the email on their starting page. (Most of the time). If not, use 2a to
verify the email.
Pharming DNS Poisoning
Pharming in Simple Steps:
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Hacker creates a fake website which appears similar to the original website.
Hacker poisons the DNS servers thus domain names are resolved into fake IP address.
User types the URL of the original website in the browser.
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The DNS server directs User to the fake website designed by hacker.
User not knowing that it is a fake website, shares his confidential information such as login,
password... etc.
 Hacker gets the user confidential information from his fake web site and uses it to access the
original website.
 Hacker exploits user's confidential information to his liking.
Protection from Pharming
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Check the URL of any site that asks you to provide personal information. Make sure your session
begins at the known authentic address of the site, with no additional characters appended to it.
Use a trusted, legitimate Internet Service Provider. Rigorous security at the ISP level is your first
line of defense against pharming.
Check the certificate. It takes just a few seconds to tell if a site you land on is legitimate. Block
suspicious Websites automatically
Internet Business Scams
Dear Friend, as you read this, I don't want you to feel sorry for me, because, I believe everyone will die
someday. My name is Mr Adada Muhammadu, a Crude Oil merchant in Nigeria and I have been
diagnosed with Esophageal cancer. It has defied all forms of medical treatment, and right now I have
only about a few months to live, according to medical experts. I want God to be merciful to me and
accept my soul so, I have decided to give alms to charity organizations, as I want this to be one of the
last good deeds I do on earth. So far, I have distributed money to some charity organizations in Austria,
Cameroon, Liberia, Algeria and Malaysia. Now that my health has deteriorated badly, I cannot do it
myself anymore. The last of my money which no one knows of is the huge cash deposit of Eighty million
dollars $80,000,000 that I have with a finance/Security Company abroad. I will want you to help me
collect this deposit and dispatched it to charity organizations. I have set aside 20% for you and for your
time. God be with you. ~ Mr Adada Muhammadu"
Most Common Business Scams